Cuff Brace

ABSTRACT

My invention is a Cuff Brace for use with a shirt or blouse having French Cuff sleeves, to fasten the cuffs together and to create a decorative edge at the end of the cuffs. The Cuff Brace connects the French Cuffs together by two studs being inserted into the eyelets or buttonholes of the french cuff and the edge of the french cuff being tucked inside the Frame of the Cuff Brace. The Cuff Brace can be made from materials such as, but not limited to, platinum, gold, silver, steel, titanium, or relatively any of the precious metals. The Cuff Brace can also be made of wood or plastic. The Cuff Brace can also have ornamental designs that include precious and semiprecious stones. The Frame, Pins and Studs of the present invention can be constructed in a variety of embodiments, while maintaining the overall function of the present invention.

This invention is used as a high luxury accessory to secure and fashion French Cuffs on the sleeves of any ordinary French Cuff shirt. It is furthermore used as a new method and alternative to using cuff links to secure french cuffs. It not only secures the french cuff at the eyeholes, but it also provides a decorative trim around the edge of the French Cuff.

The present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is top view of the cuff brace; FIG. 2 is a side view of the cuff brace; FIG. 3. is a perspective view of the cuff brace; FIG. 4 is a top view, illustrating the parts of the cuff brace, all showing one preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5-FIG. 8 shows examples of alternative embodiments of the invention; and FIG. 9 shows the cuff brace in operative position on the sleeve of a French Cuff Shirt.

I claim the invention of the Cuff Brace as my own invention, whereas I am the sole inventor of the Cuff Brace.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the new method of how French Cuffs are secured or fashioned together. A French Cuff is a piece of material, attached to the lower edge of a shirt sleeve. The piece is folded back upon itself, halfway of its length, providing inner and outer panels, and joined by a folded line which creates the edge of the cuff. French Cuffs are normally fashioned together using cuff links, which are pressed through aligned eyelets or buttonholes. When the cuffs are joined together, it leaves the edge of the cuffs undefined, leaving an unfinished, non uniformed and sloppy end result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is for a Cuff Brace which is a piece, consisting of two studs connecting to a center frame, that joins the cuff together at the buttonholes and at the edge of the cuff. The Cuff Brace secures the cuffs together at the buttonholes, as well as provides an attractive lining, using the frame, to finish off the edge of the cuff.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a cuff brace showing one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a cuff brace showing one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cuff brace showing one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a cuff brace illustrating the parts of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a second alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of an example of an alternative embodiment with a custom design;

FIG. 8 is a top view of an example of an alternative embodiment with a custom design; and

FIG. 9 is an exemplary illustration of a sleeve with a french cuff embodying the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, there is shown a top, side and perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the cuff brace invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the cuff brace, showing the components of the invention. The Cuff Brace is comprised of four parts. One Frame 10; One Center Pin 12; Two Studs 14; and two cross pins 16. The frame 10 on this preferred embodiment is a U-Shaped piece with two sides 10-A, a front 10-B, and a top 10-C. The center pin 12 in this preferred embodiment is a cylinder that is attached to the frame 10. The studs 14, on this preferred embodiment are spheres that are attached to the cross pins 16. The cross pins 16 are attached to the center pin 12 to form a T-Bar.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the invention showing an alternative embodiment to the frame of the invention, which is an open ended oval 18 and FIG. 6 which is a top view of the invention showing an alternative embodiment to the frame of the invention which is an open ended triangle 20.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show a side view and top view of an alternative embodiment that shows invention with a custom fancy design. The studs 22 and the frame 24 illustrate one example of various custom designs contemplated within the scope of alternative embodiments.

FIG. 9 Illustrates the cuff brace as applied to a french cuff. In applying the cuff brace, the studs 28 are inserted through the buttonholes on each side of the cuff. The frame top 30 is positioned at the top of the cuff edge. The entire cuff edge is then fitted inside the frame. The bottom end of the frame 32 is the open end.

The construction details of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. The frame 10 is made up of four components: two side bars 10-A; One front bar 10-B; and a top plate 10-C. The center pin 12 is a mini cylinder with one end attaching to the frame 10 and the other end attaching to the cross pin 16 to form a Cross or T. The cross pins 16 are mini cylinders that attach to the center pin 12 at one end, while attaching to the studs 14 at the other end. The studs 14 are spheres that attache to the cross pins 16.

The advantages of my invention are, without limitation, providing the well dressed man and woman an alternative to using cuff links to secure french cuffs. the studs on the cuff brace 14 are symmetrical, so the overall presentation is a better fashion statement to the well dressed man or woman. Because the studs 14 are uniformed in size and position, the probability of loosing the cuff brace is minimal in comparison to cuff links because the cuff links securing locks are not completely secure. The frame 10 of the present invention provides a lining or trim for the edge of the cuff, giving the cuff edge a more defined and elegant look.

In broad embodiment, the present invention is a cuff brace that secures French Cuffs and button less cuffs together using the button holes and the edge of the cuff.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered to presently be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments, methods and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A cuff brace sutibale for securing and fastening french cuff sleeves, comprising: (a) a frame that covers the edge of the cuff, to brace it together, so as to keep it in place, and to create an elegant defined edge; (b) a center pin which connects to said frame or is molded into said frame; (c) a cross pin or cross pins which connects to said center pin or is molded into said center pin; (d) and two studs, which connects to said cross pin or pins or is molded into said cross pin or pins; (e) wherein said frame, center pin, cross pin or pins and studs are connected, welded, or molded together to form a solid piece or single piece.
 2. A cuff brace as set forth in claim 1 wherin said studs are interchangeable and can be made to screw, clamp, hinge, or snap to the cross pin or pins.
 3. A cuff brace as set forth in claim 1 wherin said frame is removable and affixes to the center pin.
 4. A cuff brace of claims 1 and 3 wherin said frame is hinged in order to clamp, snap, pop or click into place. 